Improvement in heel-trimming machines



J. W. DODGE.` HeelfTrimming Machine'.

No. 220,966. Patented Oct. 28, 1879.

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` i, v Fig- 7- Figa- HEB UNITED 'STATES PATENT @Erical J. VESLEY DODGE, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HEEL-TRIMMING AMACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.v 220.966, dated October 28, 1879; application filed February l, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. WESLEY DODGE, of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Machine for Trimming Heels, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part hereof.

The main object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient automatic mechanism, hy means of which the axis of the heel is gradually tilted with relation to the axis of the cutter as the heel is turned from breast to back, and gradually restored to its initial relation with the axis of the cutter as the heel is trimmed from back to breastthat is, the axis of the cutter and of the heel are substantially parallel when the vtrimming commences at the breast; but as 'the trimming proceeds this automatic mechanism gradually inclines these axes relatively each to the other until the back of the heel is trimmed, when the inclination is at its maximum. In the further trimming of the heel from back to breast the maximum inclination gradually decreases until the axes are again broughtsubstantially parallel.

Another important feature of my invention,

Aessential for the=best work, consists in automatic mechanism, which shall gradually vary the plane in which the axes of the heel and cutter lie, while the eccentric part of the heel is trimmed-that is, taking the machine as shown in the drawings, the plane in which thev axes of the heel and cutter lie at the start,

or when the cutter begins to turn, at the corner of the heel, is several degreesfrom the vertical; but by means of this mechanism this plane is made vertical as soon as the cutter has iinished trimming the eccentric part of the heel on one side, and remains vertical during the trimming of the concentric part of the heel, when by this mechanism it is restored to its initial position, the change from its initial position to the vertical taking place gradually as the eccentric part of the heel on one side is trimmed, and the change from its vertical position toits initial position taking place gradually as the eccentric part of the heel on the other side is trimmed.

In the drawings, Figures l, 2, and 4 are elevations, and Fig. 3 is a plan of a machine embodying my invention in its preferred form. Figs. 8, 9, '10, and 1l are plan and threesections of a French heel, so called. The other figures show details of my macchine, and will be referred to below. l

A is the pedestal, upon which are mounted. the working parts of the machine. Bis a slide mounted upon the arm a of pedestal A, and carrying the cutter frame b. This Ycutterframe is journaled upon B, so that its axis is coincident with that of shaft b', which carries the pulleys b2 b3, through which motion is imparted to the cutter-shaft b4.

When not in use the counter-balance bholds the cutter away from. the work, the bent arm b7 preventing the cutter-frame b from rising too far. v

The cutter frame 'is drawn downl by the treadle b2, and is prevented from being drawn down too far by the adjustable stop b9. The cutter-shaft b4 carries the cutter bo, or any other tool suitable for the work to be done.

The pulley b2 should be so belted as not to prevent the slight motion given to the slide B by means of the lever b and the cam blz. This lever b is fulcrumed in the forked projection bl, and-its fulcrum is adjustable for different'sizes of heels.

The jack is attached to the shaft ,C so that the axis ot' that shaft is. coincident with the axis of the heel. Thejack shown is ot' my in' vention, and is the lnost convenient known to lne for use in my machine.

'The end of shaft O enters the shoe and bears against the inner heel part of the solc. On shaft G is a sleeve, c, and to this sleeve is attached the arm c', which carries at its outer end the heel-plate, which rests upon the tread of the heel.

The sleeve c can be moved lengthwise on shaft C by means of the nut c2, and thus clamp the heel firmly between the end of shaft C and the heel-plate or arm c', all as clearly shown in detail in Figsu, 6, and 7.

When the nut c2 is turned in. one direction it unclamps the heel, when the arm e can be readily swung back, the shoe taken off, and another shoe put onwhen the arm o is swung backand nut c2 turned in the other direction to clamp the heel.

The shaft C is iournaled on the slide D, and has attached to it a gear, d. The slide D moves in ways formed in the casting F, which is supported by the pedestal A. This slide D derives its motion from shaft (l by means of the connecting-rod g, (best seen in Fig. 4,) that rod v4being` connected to slide D and wheel II on shaft G, so that when shaft G is turned the slide D is moved up and then down.

A double rack-frame, J, is mounted on the casting F, so that it can be moved in a direction across shaft C, so as to bring first one and then the other of its two racks in gear with the gear d, in order that the gear d and its shaft() shall turn in the same direction during the whole operation of trimming the heel. The outside motion of the double rackframe J is imparted by the cam on the periphery of wheel H, which takes in a fork on the arm j attached to frame J. (Best seen in Fig. 4.)

The operation is as follows: The shoe having been jacked, lthe cutter is brought to place by the treadle, and commences to trim the heel at' the breast. The shaft Gis then turned by hand, and with it the wheels H, and Il b, during the iirst part ot' its motion, acts upon lever b, and thereby pulls the cutter' over the edge of the heel from the breast rearward, thus changing the plane in which the axes of the heel and cutter lie several degrees, (depending upon the shape of the heel) from a vertical plane to a vertical plane. H actuates the slide D by means of the connectingrod g, and, as slide D moves upward, the gear (I, meshing with the rack on the right of Fig. 4, revolves slowly, and thus revolves the heel on the axis ot' shaft C. Vvhen the heel hasthus been revolved half-way, the rackframe J is shifted, (by cam on wheel I-I and arm l7',) so as to bring the other rack in mesh with gear d, the slide then commencing to move downward, and during its downward motion the gear (l and shaft C continue to revolve slowly in the same direction as before. W hen the cutter commences to act upon the eccentric part of the side ofthe heel, the slide B is again moved by the cam b and lever bl. This completes the operation. l

The auxiliar f stop b14 is used when the un' trimmed heel is rou gli-that is, it is set so that it will hold the cutter a little farther from the heel-edge than the stop b9 would hold it-and the heel is then trimmed, thus bringing it to near the desired shape; after which. the auxiliary stop b is turned down out ofthe Way, and the heel again trimmed, the position of the cutter being determined by the stop b9, and the heel being brought to the exact shape and size desired. This auxiliary stop b14 is desirable for the reason that the cutter leaves a smoother surface when the amount removed by it is nearly thc same along the edge than when the amount removed varies a good deal, as it does in the rough heels. The arrangement of these stops will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 12.

In practice the two racks are connected together adjustably, so that they can be adjusted nearer together or farther apart, in order that a small or large gear, d, can be used to suit the dii'erent shapes of heels, the connecting-rod r/ being, of course, shortened or lcngthened to correspond with the size of gear used.

That I claim as my invention is- 1. In combination, thejack, the cutter, the automatic mechanism, substantially such as is above described, for gradually varying the relative inclination of the axes ofthe heel and cutter, and the automatic mechanism, substantially such as is above described, for gradually varying the direction ofthe plane on which the axes ot' the heel and cutter lie while the eccentric part ofthe heel is trimmed, substantially as speciiied.

2. In combination, the shaft C, sleeve c, arm c', and nut c2, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the double rack-frameJ, slide D, gear d, shaft C, and jack, substantially as described.

4. In combination, the slide D, frame D, le ver l1, and cam D, substantially as described.

J. )VESLEY DODGE.

Witnesses:

GEORGE O. G. Colima, J. E. MAYNADIER. 

